Dual size film negative supporting frames



April 19, 1960 F. A. STIRRUP DUAL SIZE FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAMES Filed July 24, 1957 INVENTOR. FRANK A. STI RRUP ATTORNE).

United States Patent "ice DUAL SIZE FILM NEGATIVE SUPPORTING FRAMES Frank A. Stirrup, Plaiufield, NJ.

Application July 24, 1957, Serial No. 673,929

2 Claims. (Cl. 95-100) This invention relates to frames for supporting X-ray and other picture films in the operation of developing or otherwise processing and drying the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a frame structure of the character described employing an adaptor element for the conversion of the frame for support of a large film as well as a small film.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a frame of the character described employing dual headed frame and film supporting rings of flexible material, the positioning of two of which on the main frame of the device forming a guide for positioning of the adaptor element thereon. i

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a large plan view of one side portion only of a frame, with parts of the construction broken away and illustrating the positioning of an adaptor element on the frame.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

This invention deals with film negative supporting frames of the type and kind disclosed in my Patent Number 2,793,575 granted May 28, 1957 and, in order to simplify the showing and in view of the fact that both side portions of the frame are of the same construction, except for the length of a top rail of the frame, a large broken view of one side of the frame only is shown in the accompanying drawing in order to simplify the illustration. i

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, represents the main frame, which is oblong and rectangular in form and comprises side rails, one of which is indicated at 11, a bottom cross-rail, indicated, in part, at 12 and a top channelled frame cross-bar 13, the latter having one relatively long end 14 with a downwardly projecting pin 15 thereon.

At 16 I have shown a clamp frame, again oblong and rectangular in form and defined by side rails, one of which is shown at 17. A bottom rail is shown, in part, at 18, a top rail 19 adapted to seat within a top crossrail of the main frame, the cross-rail 20 being spaced from the supporting cross-bar 13, as clearly shown.

The side rail 17 of the clamp frame 16 has an upwardly protruding end 17 pivoted to the upstanding wall portion 11' of the cross-rail 11, as indicated at 21, so that the clamp frame is free to swing vertically in the main frame 18 in the operation of placing films in and removing the same from the frame structure. Suitable means will be provided to check upward swinging movement of the clamp frame 16, for example, as taught in the patent hereinbefore referred to but, as such means forms no part of the present case, there is no specific showing thereof.

The rails of the frames 10 and 16 are all angle iron in cross-sectional form, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and further represented in Fig. 1. The lower members of the rails 11, 12 and 20 are slotted to receive film and frame supporting cushioning rings 22 positioned at each side of the frame structure, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. rings 22 is shown in enlarged sectional detail in Fig. 2

of the drawing and comprises upper and lower enlargedheads 23 and 24 joined and spaced by a collar portion 25. The bore of the ring is indicated at 26.

The ring 22, positioned on the side rail '11, is so spaced with respect to the bottom rail 12 as to provide, between the rail 12 and an adaptor rail element 27, a film dimension less than the normal spacing between the rail 12 and the rail 20.

It will be understood that frames of the type and kind under consideration are made in several sizes. ever, to give one illustration, assuming that the spacing between the rails 12 and 20 would be twelve inches and the width of the frame or, in other words, the spacing between the two side rails 11, is ten inches, then the frame would be used for support of films measuring ten inches by twelve inches. Thus, the spacing between the rails 12 and 27 will be eight inches, so thatthe same frame can be utilized for support of films measuring eight inches by ten inches by simply attaching the adaptor rail element 27 to the side members 11 of the frame 10.

The ring 22, on the side member 11, serves as a guide, against which the lower wall 27 of the rail 27 abuts, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing. The upstanding wall 27" is spaced from the rails 11 and 17, as clearly noted in Fig. 2, so that the lower wall 27' can seat flushly upon the lower wall of the rail 11.

The rail 27 has, at its ends, spring fingers 28 to yieldably and firmly engage the frame 10, the fingers having outwardly flared fingerpiece ends 29 to facilitate detachment of the rail 27. It will be understood that, when the frame is used for the support of the larger films, the adaptor rail element 27 is detached. In other words, with the showing in the accompanying drawing, the frame is arranged for the support of eight inch by ten inch films in accordance with the illustration hereinbefore mentioned.

The rails 17, 18 and 19 have, directly above the rings 22, depressed portions 30, one of which is shown in section in Fig. 2 of the drawing, which are adapted to press the film edges into the bore 26 of each of the collars 22 in securely positioning the film within the frame, the film resting upon the upper heads 23 of the rings. In this connection, it will be apparent that the lower heads 24 of the rings protrude below the frames and rails sufliciently to form cushion supports for the frame when placed upon a supporting surface. As previously stated, the various rails are slotted to receive the rings and the slot of the rail 11 is indicated at 31, in Fig. 2.

The rail 18 has extending fingerpiece portions welded or otherwise fixed to the upstanding wall thereof adjacent the corner portions of the clamp frame 16 and one of these protruding fingerpiece portions is indicated at 32 in Fig. '1 of the drawing.

It will also be noted that the corner portion of the clamp frame 16 is reinforced by an angle plate 33, which is welded or otherwise secured to the lower wall of the rails 17 and 18. It will appear, from a consideration of Fig. 1, that the clamp frame 16 seats snugly within the main frame 10, so that a rigid frame structure results,

particularly when the clamp frame 16 is in operative position.

Patented A r; 9,1959

One of these in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The hook portion 37 is extended to form a fingerpiece 38 facilitating outward flexing of the catch device 34 to release the clamp frame 16 for upward swinging movement.

It will be noted that the free end of the curved spring arm, when in operation position, seats in an aperturedportion 39 of the upstanding wall 11' of the rail 11, as noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Welded to the lower wall of the rail 11 is an outwardly projecting substantially L-shaped stop 40 positioned in alinement with the hook end 37 and serving to check outward flexing movement of the catch device 34, thus obviating straining of the device.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In supporting frames of the character described, a rectangular main frame having a top supporting crossbar spaced above the top cross-rail of said frame, the sides, bottom and cross-rails of said frame being of angleiron cross-sectional form, a rectangular clamp frame pivotally and snugly supported in the sides, bottom and Cross-rail of the main frame and adapted to swing from a closed to an open position, providing access to the main frame, an adaptor rail element of angleiron crossare supported in connection sectional form, including means for detachable mounting in connection with the side rails of the main frame in predetermined position with respect to the bottom rail of the main frame to adapt the frame for support of a film sheet, smaller in size than the size of sheet normally arranged and supported in the rails of the main' frame, the side rails of the main frame, adjacent the bottom rail, including spring catch devices, each device comprising a' curved spring arm extendinglongitudinally of the side rail, and the free end of the arm having an upwardly extending hook-shaped portion, operatively engaging the clamp frame in support of the clamp frame in closed position in the main frame.

2. A frame as defined in claim 1, wherein means is fixed to and projects outwardly from each of the side rails of the main frame for checking outward flexing movement of said spring arm.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 25, 1950 

